Rankin Inlet (May 14/03) - There are a variety of barriers to learning. The trick is knowing and seeing them for what they are.

To help take the guess work out of identifying learning disabilities the Nunavut Literacy Council is hosting a workshop on the subject.

"There is a great need in the field of adult education and literacy for educators to know about learning disabilities," said Janet Onalik, literacy development coordinator in Rankin Inlet.

She said that the schools in Nunavut don't have the expertise to assess learning disabilities, which means students are slipping through the cracks of the education system.

"People who come to the council didn't make it through the system for whatever reason. One of those reasons, we think, is learning disabilities," said Onalik.

The workshop will not give adult educators the expertise to diagnose learning disabilities.

But, Onalik said, it will allow them to adjust teaching strategies to better accommodate students who may have barriers to learning.

"It's a gap we saw and wanted to fill," she added.

To help facilitate the process the literacy council is bringing an expert in to run the workshop.

Patricia Hatt, an educator from Toronto with over 30 years experience, will conduct the workshop.

With a master's degree in adult literacy and language problems, the council felt Hatt was a perfect candidate.

Over three days, beginning on May 13 and ending on May 15, the workshop will focus on the type of learning disabilities, assessment and teaching strategies.

Onalik said that 16 people will be attending the workshop.

"We opened it up to instructors from the three regions," she said.

As well, people from the community of Repulse Bay were also invited to take part.

Onalik said it is a chance to further the mandate of the literacy council while providing professional development for its staff.

"Our role is to support literacy needs in Nunavut," she said.